Hydrangea plant named ‘Magical Emerald’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Hydrangea  plant named ‘Magical Emerald’, characterized by its upright and mounded plant habit; strong roots and stems; freely branching habit; and large inflorescences with very light pink-colored flowers.

Botanical designation: Hydrangea macrophylla.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Magical Emerald’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Hydrangea, botanically known as Hydrangea macrophylla and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Magical Emerald’.

The new Hydrangea is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Aalsmeer, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program was to create new Hydrangea cultivars with strong stems, large inflorescences and attractive flower color.

The new Hydrangea originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in 2002 in Aalsmeer, The Netherlands, of two unnamed seedling selections of Hydrangea macrophylla, not patented. The new Hydrangea was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Aalsmeer, The Netherlands in 2004.

Asexual reproduction of the new Hydrangea by vegetative cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Aalsmeer, The Netherlands since 2004, has shown that the unique features of this new Hydrangea are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Hydrangea have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Magical Emerald’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Magical Emerald’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Hydrangea:

-   -   1. Upright and mounded plant habit.     -   2. Strong roots and stems.     -   3. Freely branching habit.     -   4. Large inflorescences with very light pink-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Hydrangea differ from plants of the parent selections primarily in plant habit as plants of the new Hydrangea are more uniform than plants of the parent selections. In addition, plants of the new Hydrangea have larger flowers than plants of the parent selections.

Plants of the new Hydrangea can be compared to plants of Hydrangea ‘Snowball’, not patented. Plants of the new Hydrangea differ from plants of ‘Snowball’ primarily in flower color as plants of ‘Snowball’ have pure white-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the unique appearance of the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ from the color value cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Hydrangea.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Magical Emerald’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the top of the second sheet is a close-up view of a typical inflorescence of ‘Magical Emerald’.

The photograph at the bottom of the second sheet is a close-up view of typical leaves of ‘Magical Emerald’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. Plants used in the aforementioned photographs and in the following description were grown during the spring in Boskoop, The Netherlands, in containers in a glass-covered greenhouse and under conditions which closely approximate commercial production conditions. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 15° C. to 20° C. and night temperatures ranged from 14° C. to 15° C. Plants of the new Hydrangea were pinched one time and had been planted for two years when the photographs and description were taken.

-   Botanical description: Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Magical Emerald’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Unnamed seedling selection of             Hydrangea macrophylla, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Unnamed seedling selection of             Hydrangea macrophylla, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Method.—By cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 20 days at             temperatures of 17° C. to 25° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 30 days at             temperatures of 10° C. to 15° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 40 days             at temperatures of 17° C. to 25° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 70 days             at temperatures of 10° C. to 15° C.         -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; creamy brown             in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; moderately dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Form/growth habit.—Upright and mounded plant habit; broad             inverted triangle. Strong lateral branches; moderately             vigorous growth habit.         -   Plant height.—About 33.7 cm.         -   Plant diameter or area of spread.—About 57.4 cm.         -   Branching habit.—Freely branching with about seven lateral             branches per plant; pinching enhances lateral branch             development.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 23.8 cm. Diameter: About             6.5 mm. Internode length: About 6.5 cm. Texture: Smooth,             glabrous. Strength: Strong. Color: Close to 144A. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple.         -   Length.—About 14.8 cm.         -   Width.—About 9.1 cm.         -   Shape.—Broadly oval to broadly elliptic.         -   Apex.—Acute to apiculate.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Margin.—Serrate.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 143A.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 146B. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Between 137A and 147A;             venation, close to 145B to 145C. Fully expanded leaves,             lower surface: Between 138A and 147B; venation, between 144C             and 145A.         -   Petiole.—Length: About 3.1 cm. Diameter: About 4.5 mm.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,             upper and lower surfaces: Close to 144A to 144B. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and habit.—Single fertile and sterile flowers             arranged on terminal panicles; panicles large, flattened and             globular. Flowers face upright to outward. Flowers not             fragrant.         -   Natural flowering season.—Continuous flowering from early             April until October in The Netherlands.         -   Flower longevity.—Flowers maintain good substance and color             for about four weeks on the plant. Flowers persistent.         -   Quantity of flowers.—Freely flowering habit; about 28             fertile flowers and about 100 sterile flowers per panicle.         -   Panicle height.—About 10.5 cm.         -   Panicle diameter.—About 17.1 cm.         -   Fertile flower diameter.—About 1.2 cm.         -   Fertile flower depth (height).—About 7 mm.         -   Sterile flower diameter.—About 6 cm.         -   Sterile flower depth (height).—About 2 cm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 5 mm. Diameter: About 4 mm.             Shape: Globular. Color: Close to 75B to 75C.         -   Petals, present on fertile flowers only.—Arrangement: About             five in a single whorl. Length: About 5 mm. Width: About             3 mm. Shape: Ovate. Apex: Acute. Base: Attenuate. Margin:             Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous.             Color: When opening, upper surface: Close to 68A. When             opening, lower surface: Close to 65A. Fully opened, upper             surface: Close to 68B. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to             65B.         -   Sepals, fertile flowers.—Quantity per flower: About five in             a single whorl. Length: About 3 mm. Width: About 1.5 cm.             Shape: Ovate. Apex: Acute. Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,             immature, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 145D. Color,             mature, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 150D.         -   Sepals, sterile flowers.—Quantity per flower: About four in             a single whorl. Length: About 3.2 cm. Width: About 4.4 cm.             Shape: Roughly reniform. Apex: Rounded to bluntly acute;             emarginate. Base: Cuneate. Margin: Serrate to crenate.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,             immature, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 157A. Color,             mature, upper and lower surfaces: Close to N155D flushed             with close to 69C to 69D.         -   Pedicels, fertile flowers.—Angle: About 10° from vertical.             Strength: Moderately strong. Length: About 5 mm. Diameter:             About 1 mm. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 65C             to 65D.         -   Pedicels, sterile flowers.—Angle: About 55° from vertical.             Strength: Moderately strong. Length: About 3.7 cm. Diameter:             About 2 mm. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 65C             to 65D.         -   Reproductive organs, present on fertile flowers             only.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: About ten. Filament             length: About 4 mm. Filament color: Close to 68B. Anther             shape: Reniform. Anther length: About 1.5 mm. Anther color:             Close to 186D. Pollen amount: Moderate to abundant. Pollen             color: Close to 156D. Pistils: Pistil quantity per flower:             About three. Pistil length: About 1 mm. Stigma shape:             Club-shaped. Stigma color: Close to 70B. Style length: About             0.7 mm. Style color: Close to 68D. Ovary color: Close to             68D.         -   Fruits/seeds.—Fruit and seed development have not been             observed on plants of the new Hydrangea. -   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Hydrangea have been     observed to be relatively resistant to Powdery Mildew; plants of the     new Hydrangea have not been observed to be resistant to pests or     other pathogens common to Hydrangea. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Hydrangea have been shown     to be tolerant to temperatures ranging from about −15° C. to about     30° C. 

1. A new and distinct Hydrangea plant named ‘Magical Emerald’ as illustrated and described. 